heese!" cried the bell boy, enthusiastically. "And let us rub
the bones with some of those matches that glow in the dark!"

The plan was talked over, and watching their chance the two transferred
the skeleton and the skulls to the apartment occupied by Wilberforce
Chaster. Then they rubbed phosphorus on the bones, and hung them upon
long strings, running over a doorway into the next room.

That evening Wilberforce Chaster remained in the hotel parlor until ten
o 'clock. Then he marched off to his room in his usual ill humor. The
gas was lit and he went to bed without delay.

As soon as the light went out and they heard the man retire, Joe and
the bell boy began to groan in an ominous manner. As they did so, they
worked the strings to which the skulls and the skeleton were attached,
causing them to dance up and down in the center of the old man's room.

Hearing the groans, Wilberforce Chaster sat up in bed and listened. Then
he peered around in the darkness.

"Ha! what is that?" he gasped, as he caught sight of the skulls. "Am I
dreaming--or is that--Oh!"

He started and began to shake from head to foot, for directly in front
of him was the skeleton, moving up and down in a jerky fashion and
glowing with a dull fire. His hair seemed to stand on end. He dove under
the coverings of the bed.

"The room is haunted!" he moaned. "Was ever such a thing seen before!
This is wretched! Whatever shall I do?"

The groans continued, and presently he gave another look from under the
bed clothes. The skeleton appeared to be coming nearer. He gave a loud
yell of anguish.

"Go away! Go away! Oh, I am haunted by a ghost! This is awful! I cannot
stand it!"

He fairly tumbled out of bed and caught up his clothing in a heap. Then,
wrapped in some comfortables, he burst out of the room and ran down the
hallway like a person possessed of the evil spirits.

"Come be quick, or we'll get caught!" whispered Joe, and ran into the
room, followed by the bell boy. In a trice they pulled loose the strings
that held the skulls and the skeleton, and restored the things to the
doctor's room from which they had been taken. Then they went below by a
back stairs.

The whole hotel was in an alarm, and soon Mr. Mallison came upon the
scene.

"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded, severely, of Wilberforce
Chaster.

"The meaning is, sir, that your hotel is haunted," was the answer, which
startled all who heard it.

CHAPTER XII.